AZTALAN STATE PARK

Aztalan State Park may be one of Wisconsin's most mysterious locations. A giant primitive barricade  meanders throughout the park. It winds and twists over the land. Within the borders of some of the barricade and giant mounds.

The mystery of Aztalan dates back to the year 900. During this time, the land was inhabited by a group of people belonging to a culture that reigned North American from the Great Lakes all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. This network of groups was referred to as the Mississippian Culture.

Tribes flourished and created advanced settlements. From 900 to 1300, these groups of people built complex settlements. They also shared an advanced trading system with nearby villages as well as those in the Gulf of Mexico. Three giant mounds remain on the Park grounds. There are many theories on the purpose of the mounds. Suggestions include ceremonial, defensive, storage and even include theories involving astrological study. Just as mysterious as the structural design of the mounds and the stockade fence, was the fate of the people who colonized this land.

The ruins of Aztalan were discovered in 1835. Upon discovery and subsequent research of the land, it was estimated that the people who once thrived here left the area between 1200 - 1300. However the reasons were unclear. One theory points to the famous Aztec tribes of Mexico. These tribes retell tales of their ancestors coming from the North. Based on similarities between the construction of the mounds between those found here and those in early Mexican Indian cultures, the land was named Aztalan. Based on artifacts found on Atzalan's grounds which show the items received in trade from the Gulf Of Mexico, a  migration from the Great Lakes Area to Mexico is not out of the question. But the question of why still remains.  Speculation centers around threats from other tribes or even a period of extreme cold that drove the people to warmer land.

The preservation of the area was not an easy task. In 1836 the land was surveyed and requests were made to preserve the land. However the government did not see the need for preservation and sold the land. Many mounds were destroyed. Artifacts found were recycled. Most of the land was turned into farmland. In 1850 the stockade still remained and again interest in preserving the land went ignored.

It was not until 1921 that preservation truly began. During this time, the Wisconsin Archaeological
Society acquired some of the land. In 1952 Aztalan became a State Park. Within the following decade it would be registered as a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register Of Historic Places.

The park is well maintained. The stockade has been replicated in areas that were in disarray. The mounds are neatly trimmed and a staircase allows you to venture to the top. While this park does not allow camping, it provides wonderful trails the run along the river. If you get the chance to visit, sunsets at Aztalan State Park are stunning!

Aztalan State Park - DNR website

OLD WORLD WISCONSIN

Sitting on over 400 acres in the heart of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is Old World Wisconsin. Old World Wisconsin is a living, breathing museum depicting American life in the 1800's. While similar villages and museums can be found throughout the country, none can rival the size of Old World Wisconsin. This is the largest museum of this type in the country.

The museum is home to over 60 different buildings and structures. When the grounds opened in 1974, there were originally 8 structures on the property. Over time, historic buildings from Wisconsin have been dismantled from their original locations and brought to Old World Wisconsin to be resurrected. The buildings are laid out in a manner to reflect various ethnic groups. These groups, or villages, provide a sense of continuity.

This farm belongs to a group of buildings in the Finnish village. The small building to the right was the outhouse!

Old World Wisconsin is far more than just buildings and villages. They are living, functioning settlements. Throughout the various villages, you will encounter people going about their daily life. You might come upon a blacksmith forging wagon wheels or horse shoes, a teacher giving a lesson in the school house, or a woman tending to her chores while her husband plows the fields.

These people who breathe life into the village are the real magic to the village. Rather than just meander throughout the streets, they serve a purpose. They are in tune with the buildings, the tools of the era and lifestyle. In Old World Wisconsin, a spinning wheel is not just an accent piece for an old home, but rather a functioning tool used daily to make clothing or linens.

Even more astonishing is that the supplies used in conjunction with the tools actually comes from the fields and gardens of Old World Wisconsin. The cotton used in the spinning wheel is from one of the many living fields on the property. As you walk into the small homes, you will notice the tables have fresh fruit, eggs and bread. All of this comes from the land.

In the school house, you may find yourself learning about the history of Wisconsin and how in 1848 it became a state. Perhaps you will need to grab a piece of chalk to do some arithmetic on your slate. Watch your manners or you could end up in the corner with the dunce hat!

Old World Wisconsin is perfect for the entire family. The interactive atmosphere with the early pioneers provides the chance to ask questions, participate in various tasks and be part of the history that Old World Wisconsin has worked so well to preserve.

Old World Wisconsin Website